Daily Current Affairs- 5th April 2025

Daily Current Affairs 5th April 2025

President Murmu gives assent to Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025

In the News: On April 5, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, following its passage in both houses of Parliament earlier in the week.

• Legislative Journey:
  • The Lok Sabha passed the bill on April 3, 2025, with 288 members in favor and 232 against.
  • The Rajya Sabha approved the bill on April 4, 2025, with 128 votes supporting and 95 opposing.
• Key Provisions of the Act:
  • Inclusion of Non-Muslim Members: The Act mandates the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards, aiming to promote diversity and transparency in the management of Waqf properties.
  • Government Oversight: It grants the government a more significant role in validating Waqf land holdings to combat corruption and mismanagement.
  • Ownership Verification: The Act introduces new ownership verification requirements for Waqf properties, which could impact historical mosques, shrines, and graveyards lacking formal documentation.
• Legal Challenges: Congress MP Mohammad Jawed and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi have filed petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Act, alleging that it imposes arbitrary restrictions on Waqf properties and discriminates against the Muslim community.  

Kannadippaya, a traditional tribal handicraft from Kerala, has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag,

In the News: Kannadippaya, a traditional tribal handicraft from Kerala, has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, marking it as the state's first tribal product to receive this recognition.

Factual Details:

• Product Overview:
  • Kannadippaya, meaning "mirror mat," is named for its reflective surface. It is crafted from the soft inner layers of reed bamboo, specifically Teinostachyum wightii, known locally as Njoonjileetta.
  • The mat offers natural insulation, providing warmth in winter and a cooling effect in summer.
• Artisan Communities: The craft is preserved by tribal communities including the Oorali, Mannan, Muthuva, Malayan, Kadar, Ulladan, Malayarayan, and Hill Pulaya, primarily in the districts of Idukki, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Palakkad.
• Cultural Significance: Historically, Kannadippaya mats were presented to kings by tribal communities as a mark of honor.
• Geographical Indication (GI) Tag:
  • The GI tag was granted to two organizations in Idukki district:
    • Unarvu Pattikavargha Vividodesha Sahakarana Sangam, Venmani.
    • Vanasree Bamboo Craft & Vanavibhava Shekarana unit, Moolakkad, Uppukunnu.
  • This recognition is expected to enhance market protection and global visibility for Kannadippaya, benefiting the artisan communities involved.
• Geographical Indication (GI) Tag:
  • A GI tag is an intellectual property right that designates a product as originating from a specific location, where its quality, reputation, or characteristics are linked to its geographic origin.
  • In India, GI registrations are governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • The first product in India to receive a GI tag was Darjeeling Tea in 2004-05. 

US stock market plunges after retaliatory tariffs by China

In the News: On Friday, April 4, 2025, U.S. stock markets experienced significant declines following China's announcement of retaliatory tariffs in response to President Donald Trump's earlier tariff measures. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 2,231 points (5.5%), the S&P 500 decreased by 5.97%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 5.82%.

Factual Details:

• Background: On April 2, 2025, President Trump introduced a comprehensive "reciprocal" tariff policy, imposing a baseline tariff of 10% on all imported goods, with higher rates for specific countries.
• China's Response: In retaliation, China announced additional tariffs of 34% on all U.S. goods, effective April 10, 2025.
• Market Impact: The announcement led to a sharp sell-off in U.S. stock markets:
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged by 2,231 points (5.5%), closing at 38,314.86.
  • The S&P 500 dropped by 5.97%, ending at 5,074.08.
  • The Nasdaq Composite decreased by 5.82%, closing at 15,587.79, entering bear market territory.
• Investor Sentiment: The market downturn was driven by fears of an escalating global trade war and its potential to trigger a global recession. The CBOE Volatility Index, a measure of market volatility, reached its highest level since April 2020.
• Federal Reserve's Position: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that the tariffs could lead to higher inflation and slower economic growth, complicating the central bank's policy decisions.  

6^th BIMSTEC Summit

In the News: On April 4, 2025, during the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit in Bangkok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a comprehensive 21-point action plan aimed at enhancing regional cooperation among member nations.

Key Components of the 21-Point Action Plan:

1. Business and Trade:
   • BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce: Establish a chamber to foster business ties among member countries.
   • Annual Business Summit: Organize yearly summits to enhance economic engagement.
   • Local Currency Trade Feasibility: Conduct a study on the potential for trade in local currencies within the BIMSTEC region.
2. Digital and Financial Connectivity:
   • Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Integration: Link India's UPI with payment systems of BIMSTEC nations to facilitate seamless transactions.
   • Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Pilot Study: Share India's DPI experiences with member countries through a pilot study.
3. Disaster Management:
   • Centre of Excellence: Establish a BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Disaster Management in India to enhance cooperation in disaster response and rehabilitation.
4. Maritime Cooperation:
   • Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre: Set up a center in India focusing on capacity building, research, and innovation in maritime policies.
   • Maritime Transport Agreement: Implement the agreement to strengthen cooperation in merchant shipping and cargo transport.
5. Security Collaboration:
   • Home Ministers' Mechanism: Institutionalize this forum to address challenges like cybercrime, terrorism, and human trafficking.
   • First Meeting Hosting: India proposes to host the inaugural meeting later this year.
6. Public Health Initiatives:
   • Cancer Care Training: Provide support for training and capacity building in cancer care across BIMSTEC countries.
   • Traditional Medicine Research: Establish a Centre of Excellence to promote research and dissemination of traditional medicine.
7. Agriculture and Space Cooperation:
   • Agriculture Collaboration: Set up a centre of excellence in India focused on research collaboration and capacity building in agriculture.
   • Space Technology: Establish a ground station for training, development, and launch of nano-satellites, and utilize remote sensing data for BIMSTEC countries.
8. Youth and Cultural Engagement:
   • BODHI Initiative: Launch the BIMSTEC for Organised Development of Human Resource Infrastructure to train 300 youths from member countries annually.
   • Scholarships: Offer scholarships at India's Forestry Research Institute and expand the scheme at Nalanda University.
   • Traditional Music Festival: Host the inaugural BIMSTEC traditional music festival in India.
   • Young Leaders' Summit: Organize a summit to foster youth engagement.
   • Hackathon and Visitors Programme: Launch initiatives to encourage innovation and collaboration among young professionals.
   • Athletics Meet and BIMSTEC Games: Host an athletics meet this year and propose the inaugural BIMSTEC Games in 2027.  

Kancha Gachibowli forest issue

In the News: The Kancha Gachibowli forest area in Hyderabad has become the center of a significant environmental and legal dispute. The Telangana government's plans to auction 400 acres of this forested land for IT infrastructure development have led to widespread protests from students, environmentalists, and local residents. The controversy has escalated to the extent that both the Telangana High Court and the Supreme Court of India have intervened to halt deforestation activities in the area.

Factual Details:

• Location and Ecological Significance: Kancha Gachibowli is an urban forest adjacent to the University of Hyderabad (UoH) campus. It is rich in biodiversity, hosting approximately 233 bird species, including the Indian Roller (Telangana's state bird), and various mammals and reptiles. The forest also features unique rock formations and serves as a vital green lung for the city.
• Government's Development Plans: In February 2025, the Telangana government announced plans to auction 400 acres of Kancha Gachibowli forest land to develop IT parks. The government argued that this development could attract investments up to ₹50,000 crore and generate around 5 lakh jobs.
• Public Outcry and Protests: The announcement triggered significant opposition from UoH students, environmental activists, and local residents. Protesters highlighted the ecological importance of the forest and the potential environmental degradation resulting from deforestation. Demonstrations included sit-ins and attempts to halt tree-felling activities.
• Judicial Interventions:
  • Telangana High Court: On April 2, 2025, the High Court issued an interim stay on excavation and tree-felling activities in the 400-acre area, responding to petitions from environmental groups and activists.
  • Supreme Court of India: On April 3, 2025, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the deforestation activities, directing the Telangana government to immediately halt all tree-felling and excavation in Kancha Gachibowli. The Court also ordered an on-site inspection and sought an interim status report.
• Environmental Concerns: Environmentalists emphasize that urban forests like Kancha Gachibowli play a crucial role in regulating local climates by providing shade, reducing temperatures, and increasing humidity. The loss of such green cover could lead to a rise in local temperatures by 1 to 4 degrees Celsius.
• Current Status: As of April 5, 2025, all deforestation and development activities in Kancha Gachibowli have been halted following the Supreme Court's directive. The situation remains dynamic, with ongoing legal proceedings and public discourse surrounding the future of the forest area. 

UNHRC adopts resolution linking plastic pollution, ocean protection and human right to a healthy environment

In the News: On April 3, 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a landmark resolution recognizing the detrimental impact of plastic pollution on human rights. This resolution explicitly acknowledges that plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss collectively threaten the health of the world's ecosystems and the fundamental rights of individuals.

• Recognition of the Right to a Healthy Environment: The resolution reaffirms the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, building upon the UNHRC's 2021 recognition and the UN General Assembly's 2022 affirmation of this right.
• Human Rights Implications of Plastic Pollution: The UNHRC emphasizes that plastic pollution adversely affects the enjoyment of human rights, including the right to health, by contaminating food chains, water sources, and air quality.
• Call for Integrating Human Rights in Environmental Governance: The resolution urges states to incorporate human rights considerations into environmental policies, particularly in addressing plastic pollution and ocean protection. It highlights the necessity for a human rights-based approach in the ongoing negotiations for a global treaty to end plastic pollution.
• Support for Upcoming International Conferences: The resolution provides a strong mandate for states to consider human rights dimensions in the proceedings and outcomes of the upcoming Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), scheduled for June 2025 in Nice, France. It also addresses the need for states to tackle human rights harms caused by plastic pollution across the full life cycle of plastics, in anticipation of the final negotiations for the global treaty to end plastic pollution (INC-5.2) set for August 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The resolution aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 14, which aims to "conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development," recognizing the interconnection between environmental sustainability and the protection of human rights.